160 
WRIGHT: THE GENUS DIOSPYROS 
Oi^sp^ros Gardneri, Thw. Enum. Ceyl. PL, p. 181, 
n. 12 (1860). 
Kadumberiya, Kallu, S. 
Thw. Enum. 181. C. P. 1908. Fl. B. Ind. III., 561. 
Bedd. Ic. FI. Ind. Or. t. 132. Hiern, Mon. Eben. 182. 
A moderate-sized or large tree, evergreen, dioecious and 
polygamous; branches glabrous, young twigs pubescent ; bark 
black, thick, when freshly cut yellowish-red. Leaves very 
variable in size and form, alternate, 75-180 mm. long, 25-55 
mm. wide, oblong or oval-lanceolate, acuminate apex, 
narrowed at base, glabrous and shining, thinly coriaceous, 
deep green above, paler green beneath, venation reticulate, 
pellucid, bullate, lateral veins prominent beneath ; petiole 
7-25 mm. long, slightly pubescent below. 
The peduncle is usually curved so as to bring the flowers 
directed downwards, in which case they are partially pro¬ 
tected from sun, wind, and rain by the leaves. 
Sex .—Some trees are male only, others female only, and 
others polygamous ; several of the latter group are 
growing at Peradeniya. 
The polygamous condition may be observed on many trees 
growing at Peradeniya, and has been determined for three 
years in succession ; the flowers on polygamous trees may be 
grouped as follows : (a) those with short accrescent calyx 
segments, fertile anthers, and abortive apiculate pistil ; 
( b ) those with large deltoid calyx segments, margins of 
which are straight or recurved, fertile anthers, and abortive 
apiculate pistil ; (c) those with large deltoid calyx segments 
with deep intersegmental grooves, fertile anthers, and fertile 
pistil producing seeds. Hence the series from male to 
hermaphrodite flowers on the same tree is gradual and com¬ 
plete. (See pi. XXL, figs. 1-8.) 
The accessory whorls exhibit very few external characters 
which enable one to distinguish the male from hermaphro¬ 
dite flowers. The enlarged recurved calyx segments are 
the best external indications of a hermaphrodite flower, but 
